Losing weight can be dangerous. 10 possible causes of weight loss

The word “weight loss”, similar to “fat burning” and many other similar terms that imply a reduction in body weight (usually at the expense of the fat component), is usually associated with something healthy, healthy, correct and necessary for everyone.

And although now the public’s views have changed a bit, giving rise to movements such as “body positivity”, which often encourages people with excess body weight, the majority of our planet’s inhabitants are still inclined to see a lot of negativity in overweight. The reason for this is the state of health, which directly correlates with the presence of obesity and affects not only the quality of life, but also its duration. Therefore, when we talk about weight loss in overweight people, we are certainly talking about the positive aspects that weight loss can provide.

But are there times when weight loss is not a reason to rejoice, but a dangerous symptom? When a significantly lowered figure on the scale becomes a reason to be wary and check your health? Of course yes, answers Pavel Baranov – a specialist in the field of nutrition, endocrinology and psychology, a member of the Russian Association of Endocrinologists, a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the author of many popular articles in the field of sports medicine, nutrition and psychology, a participant of the international festival of health and sports SN PRO EXPO FORUM.

Let’s analyze what can happen to health, because of which a person’s weight can collapse in a short period of time.

Nutritional deficiencies

According to modern research, more than 50% of our planet’s population is undernourished. This means that such people are not getting the nutrients they need in the right amount. The reasons vary from economic to geographical. If malnutrition continues long enough, it can have significant effects on a person’s health, including severe weight loss. Of course, the best way to prevent this is to eat a balanced diet with adequate protein, fat and carbohydrates. Unfortunately, such a diet is not available to everyone. And many of those who do have access to it simply don’t care what they eat or when they eat it.

Loss of muscle mass

Loss of muscle mass begins around age 40 and progresses much faster after 75. Preventing the development of this condition will be both by consuming sufficient calories (including maintaining a protein allowance of 0.7g/kg or more) and staying physically active at all ages. Western countries are often a positive example of this, because it is not so difficult to find men and women over 70 who are engaged in sports there.

Hyperthyroidism

Unexplained weight loss can be a sign of a thyroid disorder called hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, which causes the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of hormones. Sometimes, a person may not be aware that they have this condition and may not do any of the things necessary to prevent it from developing. Weight loss will usually be one of a constellation of symptoms including palpitations, heat intolerance, hair loss and insomnia. If a person suspects such a disorder, they should have their thyroid condition diagnosed by an endocrinologist.

Ulcer disease

Unexplained weight loss can sometimes be one of the signs of an ulcer.

Peptic ulcers are localized mucosal defects that develop on the inner surface of the stomach, as well as in the upper part of the small intestine.

Since the main symptom of peptic ulcers is abdominal pain, they often cause decreased appetite. Lifestyle modification combined with prescribed treatment is the best way to get rid of this problem. Appeal in this situation should be addressed to a gastroenterologist.

Cancer

Severe weight loss can be one of the symptoms of cancer. There are several types of cancer such as leukemia, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer that often lead to significant weight loss.

Some cancers increase resting metabolism, which means the body burns more calories, while others can produce inflammation-inducing proteins that can lead to weight loss. Treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy often cause a decrease in appetite and can lead to side effects including nausea, vomiting and mouth ulcers that prevent you from eating. All of this also affects weight loss.

Diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with obesity, but weight loss can also be an unexpected symptom of this pathology. When the body does not use insulin properly, the transportation of glucose for further conversion into energy can also be impaired. The internal system may begin to utilize fat and muscle to function, eventually leading to a decrease in overall body weight. Here, it will be important to see an endocrinologist and nutritionist as early as possible, because the development of type two diabetes is much easier to prevent than to deal with its consequences. Type 1 diabetes, in turn, is an autoimmune disease, with which a person has to live with all his life.

Parasites

Solitarians, roundworms, ankylostomes – thousands of people pick up these and other parasites every year, either from their pets or due to poor hygiene when eating and drinking water. Parasites absorb nutrients in the body and multiply, taking up more and more space in our bodies and devouring more of its resources. This can lead to decreased appetite and weight loss without the person even realizing it. Parasites can take weeks and months and sometimes years to manifest themselves, and herein lies the importance of timely diagnosis. A number of tests and assays can help manage this problem.

Depression

This mental illness can manifest itself in many different ways, including weight loss. A person who is depressed often becomes so immersed in his problems and disconnects from the outside world that he basically almost stops eating. Although there is no single cause of depression, many cases can be effectively treated with psycho- and drug therapy. Usually, a multidisciplinary approach in the form of counseling with a psychologist/psychotherapist and a psychiatrist yields positive results.

HIV and AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, also known as AIDS, is a chronic, potentially life-threatening disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV can both make it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients and can put a person in a state similar to depression, leading to malnutrition and decreased appetite.

HIV/AIDS can also increase the risk of developing infections that cause weight loss, either because of decreased appetite or because eating becomes painful.

Alcoholism

Alcohol intoxication affects people in different ways, someone starts eating more and more, and someone, on the contrary, loses appetite. But this is the case if we are talking about healthy people. Alcoholism can lead to the fact that a person loses a significant amount of weight due to a false sense of satiety, which he will constantly feel due to the abuse of alcoholic beverages. In addition, alcoholism can lead to peptic ulcer disease, which also causes weight loss. People with such a disease also often suffer from malnutrition, because they often prefer alcohol to a balanced dinner. Of course, as in other cases, getting rid of this problem is necessary with the help of a team of professionals who can lead you “by the hand” to the result.

In addition to what we have discussed, there are many other problems and pathologies that can manifest themselves as a loss of a certain percentage of body weight. Chronic heart failure, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dementia, Crohn’s disease, Addison’s disease, Sjögren’s disease, achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc. – all these pathologies, among other symptoms, can manifest as weight loss.

This once again reminds of the importance of timely diagnosis, the need for a careful attitude to one’s own health, as well as the fact that any acquired disease is much easier and more correct to prevent than to treat when it turns into a severe form.